Local elections 2022: LIVE South Yorkshire Mayoral election count takes place - following results of Sheffield and Barnsley local council elections
and live on Freeview channel 276
Sheffield and Barnsley voters headed to the polls yesterday (Thursday, May 5), casting their votes for local councillors as well as deciding who they want to be the next South Yorkshire Mayor.
The local council results are now in in full – read and watch comment and analysis from the key players in the liveblog below.
The South Yorkshire Mayoral election count is taking place.
Local elections 2022: LIVE as South Yorkshire Mayoral election count takes place
‘The government needs to step up and invest in our region,’ says newly elected mayor Oliver Coppard
Labour’s Oliver Coppard has been declared the new South Yorkshire Mayor
He has been elected as the new South Yorkshire mayor after securing the votes in the second round of voting.
He has outlined his plans and said the government needs to step up and invest in our region, and put their money where their mouth is.
New mayor Oliver Coppard: ‘My message to Boris Johnson is things have to change'
In a statement following the announcement of his election victory, new South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard spoke of both significant possibilities and challenges.
He spoke of limitless talent and potential, with two universities in the area, cutting edge advanced manufacturing and heritage assets that are the envy of the country.
He added: “We are also one of the poorest places in the country.
We have all too many people who are struggling to get by, for whom life is too hard and too short , for whom the months are too long for pay cheques that are too small.
“My message to Boris Johnson and the Government in London is this; things have to change.
“Enough is enough. We cannot continue to be denied the opportunity to restore and renew South Yorkshire; to create a region that is healthier , wealthier, and happier. To create good jobs and new industries, to fix our buses, grasp the opportunities of net zero and bring our communities together.
“On Monday I will get to work delivering the manifesto on which I was elected restoring the pride, the purpose and the prosperity of South Yorkshire.”
Sheffield Council Labour leader Terry Fox: “We can’t shy away from some disappointments
Council Leader Terry Fox has given his thoughts on today’s elections results, which saw Labour comfortably remain the largest party on 39 seats, but losing one seat overall.
He said: “This set of elections are a turning point for Labour.
“If the results had been the same as last year, we would have lost many seats – including East Ecclesfield, Walkley and Stocksbridge and Upper Don. Instead we had a complete reversal in these seats – retaining all three.
“We are listening to what residents are telling us and delivering. We know that there is a great deal more to do to support our city and its residents and we’re committed to getting this right.
“We campaigned on a strong message of listening to local voices, delivering clean economic growth, and of helping people through the cost-of-living crisis – which the other parties barely mentioned.
“There are many positives to take forward – we consolidated on last year’s gain of Crookes and Crosspool from the Liberal Democrats, and increased our overall vote share across the city.
“We also fought back against the green surge that some were projecting. We held Walkley and sensationally took Nether Edge and Sharrow, overturning a majority of nearly a thousand.
“However we can’t shy away from some disappointments. It is a great shame to lose Josie Paszek – who has served Hillsborough heroically for the last eight years. And in Beighton Julie Gledhill, for the second year in a row, fell less than hundred seats short.
“But overall this gives us a strong platform to build on.”